It is time for the citizens of Sunset Beach and the surrounding communities to come together to oversee the construction projects planned for Sunset Beach, Peter’s Landing and Don the Beachcomber.

The first step is for everyone to attend and speak at the May 8, 2018 Planning Commission meeting concerning the Big Daddy Hotel project.

Why? Because you need to be aware that there are two City employees who are fundamentally changing the zoning standards in Sunset Beach, Peter’s Landing and Don the Beachcomber.

How? Let’s look at the Big Daddy Hotel project. You tell me if this is a hotel?

The Zoning Administrator, Ricky Ramos approved this project and the Director of Community Development Jane James is defending this 12 unit hotel where 8 of the units are 3 bedrooms with 3 full bathrooms, living room, kitchen and a laundry room and are 1,400 sq. ft each. The other 4 units are 4 bedrooms with 3 full bathrooms, living room, kitchen and laundry room and are 1,525 sq. ft each. This 12 units hotel has a total of 40 bedrooms, 36 bathrooms and parking spots for 12 units. There are NO employees, NO onsite management, security or housekeeping. It can only be rented by the week.

This is a one of a kind hotel. It doesn’t exist anywhere in Orange County, the City of Huntington Beach or Sunset Beach. So why Sunset Beach? This is spot zoning.

How does this effect Peter’s Landing, Don the Beachcomber and Sunset Beach?

For Peter’s Landing –

The Zoning Administrator Ricky Ramos, directs his staff to submit a project under his supervision where he alone is responsible for approving both projects for Peter’s Landing. One of the project will be adding two new buildings over 7,000 sq. ft to the Peter’s Landing parking lot. One of the building will be a drive through.The question they are not answering is will the new buildings excess the permitted FAR of .5 for the lot? If the FAR is exceeded then the parking will be an issues and the overflow parking will end up on Sunset Beach’s green belt.

Don the Beachcomber –

Will they push for the 8-story hotel or condos? We are not sure, but we need to keep an eye on their planning process and watch the ZONING vigilantly.

Sunset Beach –

The Big Daddy hotel. On March 7, 2018 the Zoning Administrator Ricky Ramos approved this project. It was appealed to the Planning Commission over the concerns it is not a hotel. Eventually the vacancy sign will always say no vacancy or will it be SOBER LIVING?

The Irish Mist – The Planning staff is allowing this project to go forward as a used car lot consisting of a parking structure with two residential units. Per the zoning (Commercial Visitor – Coastal Zone) car sales are not permitted in Sunset Beach.

Accessory Structures in the Tourist District – The Zoning Administrator refuses to apply the Sunset Beach’s Specific plan zoning standards for accessory structures (garages, carport and parking structures). Instead Ricky Ramos is using the City’s zoning standards which allow 35 feet of residential and commercial to be built above the accessory structure. The buildings will resemble the Bruce Jones Building where garages and carport on the first floor and a useless business on the second floor and residential on the third floor. The Sunset Beach Specific Plan requires only commercial on the first floor and residential above the commercial and not above the accessory structures.

Now you can see why it is important we all get involved. It starts on May 8th – BIG DADDY HOTEL.

The Goal:

The goal is to define if a standard hotel lodging area is both an “unit” and a “room”. There should be no difference.

Per the Sunset Beach Specific plan, Accessory Structures (parking structure) are subordinate and incidental to the principal use and not considered the Principal use.

Below are some very important questions we must demand that that the Director of Community Development Jane James and the planning staff answer.

Is this a standard hotel?

If yes, Provide a list of all the standard hotels in Sunset Beach or the City of Huntington Beach with 3 and 4 bedrooms with master bathrooms and are 1,400 to 1,500 sq. ft.?

If no, Provide a list of all the non-stand hotels in Sunset Beach or the City of Huntington Beach with 3 and 4 bedrooms with master bathrooms and are 1,400 to 1,500 sq. ft.?

What is the difference between a hotel “Unit” and a “Room”?

The parking for this hotel is only requiring 24 spots for 12 units. If it was based on the 40 bedrooms wouldn’t this hotel would require 40 parking spots just for the hotel?

This project allows 3 to 4 bedrooms per a hotel “Unit”.

Can a hotel “Unit” have 10 bedrooms?

What is the max number of bedrooms per a hotel Unit?

For example can you have a 2 unit hotel where each “unit” has 25 bedrooms and bathrooms which only require 4 parking spots? (Yes you can because Ricky Ramos will approve it and Jane James will defend it. This will be the next hotel built in Sunset Beach if we don’t define the difference between “unit” and “room”).

Did the Staff approve this hotel with multiple rooms in each unit to reduce the parking requirements?

Where in the Sunset Beach Specific Plan does it permit multiple room hotel “Units”?